Shell large sized for the genus, up to 90 mm in length at maturity.
Length/width ratio 1.95-2.03 (extremes 1.81-2.09). lanceolate, broadly ovate, weakly spinose, nodose. Subsutural ramp broad, weakly sloping, lightly convex, almost straight, extending to P2. Pinkish white or creamy white with numerous light orange to dark brown blotches on and between spiral cords and on axial varices. Aperture glossy white. Spire high with 3 protoconch whorls (partially broken in examined specimens) and teleoconch of up to 8 broad, convex, weakly shouldered, spinose and nodose whorls. Suture impressed. Protoconch (Fig. 4) small, conical, smooth, glossy, with a narrow, single keel abapically. Maximum width 1100 µm. Terminal lip thin, raised, of sinusigra type. Axial sculpture of teleoconch whorls consisting of strong, broad, nodose ribs and high, strong, narrow, nodose varices; each varix of last teleoconch whorl with 8 or 9 short, broad, broadly open, blunt, primary and secondary spines; shoulder spine short or moderately long, second short, spines increasing in length abapically. IP spine short. Most abapical spines P5 and P6 longest, s6 weakly shorter, P2-P4 short. First teleoconch whorl with 11 axial ribs, second with 13, third with 12 or 13, fourth with 8 or 9 ribs, starting varices at end of whorl, fifth to last whorl with 3 varices and 2, occasionally 3 intervariceal, nodose ribs, more conspicuous on shoulder. Spiral sculpture of low, strong, narrow, squamous and nodose primary, secondary and tertiary cords. First whorl with visible P1 P3, second with P1-P3, starting s1, occasionally with P4 covered by next whorl, third starting IP, fourth with IP, P1-P3 (P4) and secondary cords s1-s3, fifth whorl with adis, IP, abis, starting tertiary cords, sixth whorl of a juvenile specimen with adis, IP, abis, P1, s1, P2, s2, P3, s3, P4, s4, P5, s5, P6, s6 and some tertiary cords. Last teleoconch whorl of adults similar, secondary cord s6 broad, almost as broad as primary cords, followed abapically by a strong tertiary cord.
Aperture very large, broad, roundly ovate. Columellar lip broad, smooth or with 2 or 3 very weak knobs abapically; weak, elongate parietal tooth at adapical extremity. Rim partially erect, adherent at adapical extremity, strongly flaring abapically. Anal notch shallow or moderately deep, broad. Outer lip weakly erect, crenulate, with weak, low denticles within: ID, D1, D2 split, D3 split, D4 split, D5 split and D6. Siphonal canal long, broad, tapering abapically, weakly dorsally recurved, narrowly open, with 3 or 4 weakly frondose, long spines extending from ADP, MP, ABP and abs. ADP spine weakly dorsally bent. Operculum light or dark brown, ovate with subapical nucleus and strong concentric ridges. Radula with crowded rows of teeth. Rachidian with broad, long, triangular central cusp flanked by a short, triangular, lateral denticle, lateral cusp moderately long and comparatively narrow. Lateral teeth sickleshaped, moderately narrow, weakly broader at base.

Shell up to 90 mm in length at maturity, lanceolate, broadly ovate, weakly spinose, nodose. Spire high with 3 protoconch whorls (partially broken in examined specimens) and teleoconch of up to 8 broad, convex, weakly shouldered, spinose and nodose whorls. Suture impressed. Protoconch small, conical, smooth, glossy, with a narrow, single keel abapically. Terminal lip thin, raised, of sinusigra type.
Axial sculpture of teleoconch whorls consisting of strong, broad, nodose ribs and high, strong, narrow, nodose varices; each varix of last teleoconch whorl with 8 or 9 short, broad, broadly open, blunt, primary and secondary spines; shoulder spine short or moderately long, second short, spines increasing in length abapically. IP spine short. Most abapical spines P5 and P6 longest, s6 weakly shorter, P2-P4 short. Fifth and last whorl with 3 varices and 2, occasionally 3 intervarical, nodose ribs, more conspicuous on shoulder. Spiral sculpture of low, strong, narrow, squamous and nodose primary, secondary and tertiary cords. Spiral sculpture of subsutural ramp of last whorl with adis, IP, abis, followed by P1, s1, P2, s2, P3, s3, P4, s4, P5, s5, P6, s6 and some tertiary cords on convex part of whorl. Secondary cord s6 broad, almost as broad as primary cords, followed abapically by a strong tertiary cord.
Aperture large, broad, roundly ovate. Columellar lip broad, smooth or with 2 or 3 very weak knobs abapically; weak, elongate parietal tooth at adapical extremity. Rim partially erect, adherent at adapical extremity, strongly flaring abapically. Anal notch shallow or moderately deep, broad. Outer lip weakly erect, crenulate, with weak, low denticles within: ID, Dl, D2 split, D3 split, D4 split, D5 split, and D6. Siphonal canal long, broad, tapering abapically, weakly dorsally recurved, narrowly open, with 3 or 4 weakly frondose, long spines extending from ADP, MP, ABP and abs. ADP spine weakly dorsally bent. Pinkish white or creamy white with numerous light orange to dark brown blotches on and between spiral cords and on axial varices. Aperture glossy white. Radula typical for Chicomurex with numerous crowded rows of teeth and a rachidian with large, broad, triangular central cusp. The central cusp is slenderer than in the other species and the lateral denticles are attached to its base.

Chicomurex lani sp. nov. and C. superbus were very often confused in the past as seen above. This confusion is mainly due to the misinterpretation of the original figure of C. superbus because both species are easily distinguishable. Chicomurex lani is more rounded, less shouldered, with a comparatively higher spire and a broader aperture with broader columellar lip abapically. The primary spiral cords are broader, the secondary spiral cords are comparatively lower and narrower and the axial varices are narrower. The shell of C. lani is also less spinose with less or absent spinelets and less webbed spines; this is more obvious on the abapical part of the varices and on the siphonal canal. The color is also different; the spiral cords are obviously less colorful in C. lani while they are regularly and strongly topped with brown in C. superbus.

Chicomurex lani and C. superbus were very often confused in the past. This confusion is mainly due to the misinterpretation of the original figure of C superbus (see under C. superbus) because the two species are in fact easily distinguishable. Chicomurex lani is more rounded, less shouldered, with a comparatively higher spire and a broader aperture with broader columellar lip abapically. The primary spiral cords of C. lani are broader, the secondary spiral cords are comparatively lower and narrower, and the axial varices are narrower. The shell of C. lani is also less spinose with less or absent spinelets and less webbed spines; this is more obvious on the abapical part of the varices and on the siphonal canal.
The colour is also different; the spiral cords are obviously less colourful in C. lani while they are regularly and usually strongly topped with brown in C. superbus.

Southern Japan, Taiwan, Vanuatu, Coral Sea, New Caledonia, Northeast Australia, southern Great Barrier Reef, Lady Elliot Is., bathymetric range approximately 40 to 300 m for living specimens.